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 Rebel watch NCAA studying UNLV allegations
Posted: Wednesday March 17, 1999 11:42 AM
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The NCAA is investigating whether an assistant UNLV basketball coach gave money to make car payments on behalf of former Rebel player Tyron Nesby. Mike Viellion, an international business major who once served as a student manager for the basketball team, said associate head coach Glynn Cyprien gave him money to make car payments on behalf of Nesby. In addition, Viellion said Cyprien loaned Viellion's 1995 Ford Thunderbird without his permission in the summer to Rebel Kaspars Kambala and that Kambala subsequently was involved in an accident that totaled the car. NCAA investigators are in Las Vegas to conduct an informal review of the allegations. Viellion said that four times during the 1997-98 basketball season, Cyprien gave him money that Cyprien took out of his own pocket. Viellion said he was instructed to take the money to a car-leasing agency, which he declined to name, and make payments for Nesby, who is now an NBA rookie playing for the Los Angeles Clippers. Viellion said he could not recall the exact amount, but it was between $300 and $400. Viellion also said he served as a go-between for UNLV coach Bill Bayno and Nesby in picking up loaner cars Bayno had arranged for Nesby when the player's car was out of commission. Bayno would not comment on Viellion's allegations regarding payments on Nesby's car, other than to deny it in a news release put out by the university's sports information department. However, Bayno said he was aware of the dispute regarding Kambala's accident and questioned Viellion's truthfulness. A university is forbidden under NCAA rules from providing a benefit for a student-athlete that it would not provide for every other student. "The truth will come out," Bayno said. "He's trying to blow up the program and I don't know why."
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